Tags
2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:15-16, Do Right, Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 58:1-11, John 14:6, John 1:12-13, Justice, Luke 22:25-27, Matthew 1:21, Philippians 2:5-11, Romans 12:1-2, Romans 3:23-25, Romans 6:22-23, Salvation
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.22 Justice or ‘Just-Ice’???
Justice: –the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness,
or moral rightness…
–rightfulness or lawfulness…justness or ground of reason….
–the moral principle determining just conduct.
Simply put, justice is the recognition of, and the ability to choose to do right! For many today that is a fluid thing, it changes from day to day, and from situation to situation; in other words what’s ‘just’ today may not be ‘just’ tomorrow; or what’s ‘just’ for ‘me’ may not be ‘just’ for ‘you’! Praise God “from whom all blessings flow”, that HE is just, and true and right in all things, yet His justice is tempered with mercy, grace and the offer of salvation through “His only begotten Son” so that “whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life”! Grace and mercy offered to all who will believe in and receive Jesus, rather than the just judgment of God Almighty in “that day”!
For that I am most grateful—for, as the song says, “I once was lost, but now am found”—to be found “in Him” saved, and delivered, not left on my own with a defense that could never save me from the penalty or power of sin.
“For all have sinned,
and come short
of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely
by his grace
through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth
to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:23-25
We have all sinned—but we can become sinners saved by His grace if we will but repent and believe in HIS saving work in us—it’s why HE came.
“And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS:
for he shall save his people
from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
He came that we might have life instead of death.
“But now being made free from sin,
and become servants to God,
ye have your fruit
unto holiness,
and the end everlasting life.”
All because Jesus paid our debt:
“For the wages of sin
is death;
but the gift of God
is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23
Oh, what glory to be born again by HIS Spirit and be made the children—sons and daughters—of God, by HIS work not our own.
“But as many as received him,
to them gave he power
to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe
on his name:
13 Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but
of God.” John 1:12-13
Oh, how glorious to know that I am HIS child, all because “God so loved”! But what we often forget is that when God saves us and imparts His Spirit to dwell within us we are to exercise real “justice” by the power of Jesus; and not just give “just” ‘ice” (from a cold heart, to give a cold shoulder) to others whom God brings into our lives. How often do we miss (or just ignore and overlook) opportunities to “be” Jesus to someone in need? God gave Isaiah a heavy word in this regard to Israel many years ago—but it’s a message that I believe we would do good to heed. How many of us have accepted the standard of the world rather than the standard of our Lord and Savior, Jesus and our Father God?
Have we read The Word, but failed to put it into practice? Have we studied and let God put that very Word in our hearts, or have we “played church” when we ought to “be the church” to a lost and dying world. I truly believe that when we approach The Word with a heart to ‘see what it says, understand what it means in its context, and apply what it means to “MY” life’, that we will experience the true “joy of the Lord” being “our strength”!
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable
for doctrine,
for reproof,
for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God
may be perfect,
throughly furnished
unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:15-16
Saved to do His service and be HIS hands and feet to a lost and dying world. Yes saved by grace “through faith”—yet saved to serve God and others.
“For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus
unto good works,
which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
As I said—as God said—we are saved to serve, and our service, when done in the power of His Spirit and not our flesh will draw others to our Lord. But when we just ‘go through the motions’ to please ourselves or others, that is not service unto God, but is self-righteous idolatry—unto the idol of ‘self’, popularity, power, position, or whatever you want to put in the blank. Let’s consider what God said through Isaiah. It’s a lengthy passage, but one worthy of our time and consideration. (If you want a really in-depth look at this idea of ‘self-focused’ leaders and what God thinks of them read and study Ezekiel 34.)
“Cry aloud,
spare not,
lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and shew my people
their transgression,
and the house of Jacob
their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily,
and delight to know my ways,
as a nation that did righteousness,
and forsook not the ordinance of their God:
they ask of me the ordinances of justice;
they take delight in approaching to God.
3 Wherefore have we fasted,
say they,
and thou seest not?
wherefore have we afflicted our soul,
and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold,
in the day of your fast
ye find pleasure,
and exact all your labours.
4 Behold,
ye fast for strife
and debate,
and to smite with the fist
of wickedness:
ye shall not fast as ye do this day,
to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen?
a day for a man to afflict his soul?
is it to bow down his head
as a bulrush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes
under him?
wilt thou call this a fast,
and an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast
that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not
to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor
that are cast out
to thy house?
when thou seest the naked,
that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth
as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth
speedily:
and thy righteousness shall
go before thee;
the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
9 Then shalt thou call,
and the LORD shall answer;
thou shalt cry,
and he shall say, Here I am.
If thou take away from the midst of thee
the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger,
and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul
to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise
in obscurity,
and thy darkness
be as the noonday:
11 And the LORD shall guide thee
continually,
and satisfy thy soul
in drought,
and make fat
thy bones:
and thou shalt be
like a watered garden,
and like
a spring of water,
whose waters fail not.” Isaiah 58:1-11
God describes for us here a life of service, empowered by HIS grace, His love and His Son’s blood-bought salvation, which we receive by grace through faith! Jesus not only showed us what it looks like, but His blood cleanses us and equips us for HIS service and HIS glory.
“And he said unto them,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them;
and they that exercise authority
upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so:
but he that is greatest among you,
let him be as the younger;
and he that is chief,
as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater,
he that sitteth at meat,
or he that serveth?
is not he that sitteth at meat?
but I am among you as he that serveth.” Luke 22:25-27
Jesus made it clear that we are to serve, one another as believers, and the world as we have opportunity. Paul also gives us a clear picture of our place as servants of the King who came and ‘served’ us—giving Himself “a ransom for many”!
“Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal
with God:
7 But made himself
of no reputation,
and took upon him
the form of a servant,
and was made
in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion
as a man,
he humbled himself,
and became obedient
unto death,
even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also
hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name
which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
of things in heaven,
and things in earth,
and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
We can do God’s work of service—and walk in justice and truth from a heart of God’s love; instead of being “just” “ice” and giving the world a cold shoulder as they go “to hell in a hand-basket”! We can do because we have Jesus!
“To the praise
of the glory
of his grace,
wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6
Accepted in HIM, to be a living sacrifice to God!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice,
holy,
acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed
to this world:
but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove
what is that good,
and acceptable,
and perfect,
will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Being full of God’s Spirit unto HIS glory—becoming more and more like Jesus as we let HIS Word shine through us—“approved unto God”.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
So may we each pursue “justice” in all our ways—God’s justice, mercy and truth found IN Jesus, for HE is God’s truth!
“Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man cometh
unto the Father,
but by me.” John 14:6
Amen and Amen!!!
